Page 47 of The Nephilim's Finesse

Hao stood beside her, his young eyes darting around the room, taking in every detail. He babbled something in Chinese and pointed to the tree. His mother nodded and let go of his hand, and Hao ran towards the green monstrosity. One of the other Nephilim children approached him, and together, they discovered all the secret hidden things in the tree.

"Thank you," Nancy replied, her voice soft with gratitude.

"Let us show you around," Nate offered, gesturing towards the hallways on the upper floors. We led her through the corridors, pointing out the various rooms where members studied ancient texts, practised martial arts, and honed their supernatural skills.

"Your life here in London will be filled with new adventures," I told Nancy as we walked. "We'll help you find an apartment and a job to support you and Hao."

"Thank you," she said again, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I’m so grateful for this opportunity, that you will give me the chance to stay with my son."

So she knew what was at stake. I bobbed my head in acknowledgement of her sharp mind to understand the situation.

"Of course," Nate chimed in. "And Hao will go to school here at the brotherhood. He'll learn from the best and develop his own unique gifts."

We made our way down to the foyer again, where the teen Nephilim tried to show Hao how to fly with his dark wings. As Hao's eyes sparkled with excitement, I felt a sense of pride in what our brotherhood offered those who sought refuge and guidance. This was more than just a community; it was a sanctuary and a home for those like us—the Nephilim. And as Christmas continued around us, I knew that Nancy and Hao would find not only safety within these walls but also the love and kinship that came from being part of something greater than oneself.

"However," I continued, "there is one tradition we must discuss. You see, the Nephilim change our children's names to angelic names when they join the brotherhood."

Nancy's expression shifted, her brows furrowing as she considered my words. "I understand the importance of your traditions, but I cannot allow Hao's name to be changed. His name carries the legacy of our ancestors. It is a part of who he is."

I exchanged a glance with Nate, who seemed to be contemplating her request. We had always followed our customs without question, yet there was something about this woman and her son that made us pause. They had already been through so much and would have to relocate and start a new life in London. Maybe it was time for us to reconsider some of our more rigid practices.

"Perhaps," Nate began slowly, "we might consider doing things differently in the future. After all, times are changing, and we must adapt and grow as well."

I nodded in agreement. "We will respect your wishes, Nancy. Hao's name will remain unchanged, and he will carry his heritage with him as a member of the brotherhood."

"Thank you," Nancy whispered, her voice filled with relief and gratitude.

As we continued our tour of the brotherhood's headquarters, I felt as though we had made the right decision. By embracing change and accepting the unique identities of those who joined our ranks, we were forging a new path that'd hopefully lead us toward an even brighter future for the Nephilim and those we protected, no matter what outer circumstances we were in.

The cold air bit at my flesh as I stood upon Westminster Bridge, surrounded by the sea of people who had gathered to witness the grand spectacle of the New Year's fireworks at the London Eye. Before me, the sky was painted with hues of reds, blues, and greens, an ephemeral testament to the festive occasion.

“Splendid, isn’t it?” Nate remarked, holding his four-year-old adoptive son Yael on his arm, whose wide eyes showed delight at the surrounding sight.

"Indeed," I replied, focusing on the dazzling display above.

Next to us, Alissia and Charlie stood arm in arm and tried to take a selfie with the fireworks behind them, all the while laughing. Mike held Suriel, his three-year-old adoptive daughter, our newest addition to the brotherhood, close to his chest as she snuggled peacefully in his embrace, sleeping beside the loud music and explosions.

Azariel and Andrew were focused on themselves somewhere behind us, forgetting the fireworks around them. Since the kidnapping a week ago, Andrew felt the demon inside of him, but for now, it was negligible. We had to keep track of how this situation would develop in the future and if there was a reason to interfere or better to let sleeping dogs lie.

All my close friends had found their significant others in the last year. Although the beginning hadn't been easy for them, they were happy now. A pang of sorrow resonated in my heart as I had no one to embrace or to share a kiss with. Loneliness and longing washed over me as I wished that Victorija was standing here in my arms, the lights tinging her red curls in a colourful display. But this wasn't to be. Since Eldred's death, she hadn't looked at me, let alone said a word to me, and I missed her.

As the last of the fireworks faded into the darkness, leaving behind a lingering smell of gunpowder, anticipation bubbled within me as we drove back to Rainham, to the brotherhood central. It was time for the first footing tradition.

As the first footer, I was tasked with being the initial person to cross the threshold of our brotherhood's headquarters after midnight, carrying with me a bundle of symbolic gifts: a lump of coal to represent warmth, salt for prosperity, and a loaf of bread for sustenance. It was believed that the giver would receive good fortune in return, and as such, I took this role seriously—an honour passed down through generations of our brotherhood.

Back at headquarters, I waited before the entrance until everybody was gathered.

"Are you ready, Raph?" asked Kalaziel, smiling at me.

"Of course," I said with a nod, securing the bundle in my arms before stepping towards the door.

Crossing the threshold, I could feel the weight of expectation on my shoulders. The warm glow of candlelight from our huge Christmas tree flickered against the brick walls, casting shadows that danced alongside the murmurs of my brothers and sisters. Their eyes were upon me, awaiting the culmination of the ritual.

"Happy New Year," I declared, presenting the gifts to Puriel, who gratefully accepted them with a smile.

"Thank you, Raph," she said, placing the items on a nearby table. "May your generosity bring us luck and prosperity in the coming year."

"Cheers to that!" echoed a chorus of voices, and the room erupted into applause.

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